Maryland continues to produce some of the most powerful and influential leaders in the world of accounting and finance.

The most recent examples were honored on June 4 as the AICPA and CPA Practice Advisor announced their Most Powerful Women in Accounting for 2024.

Four Marylanders and MACPA members were among those honored:

• Samantha Bowling, CPA, CGMA, CFE, managing partner of GW CPA LLP in Prince Frederick, Md., and a former chair of the MACPA's Board of Directors. She is the first female partner and managing partner in her firm's history and an active volunteer with both the MACPA and the AICPA.

• Kimberly Ellison-Taylor, CPA, CITP, CGMA, CISA, chief executive officer with KET Solutions, a former board chair for the MACPA and AICPA, and a tireless volunteer and advocate on behalf of the profession.
• Lexy Kessler, CPA, CGMA, Mid-Atlantic regional leader and partner with Aprio and a former chair of the MACPA's Board of Directors who currently serves as a board member with the Association of International Certified Public Accountants.

• Jessica McClain, CPA, CITP, CISA, PMP, CGFM, chief financial officer for Girl Scouts Nation’s Capital and a former MACPA Women to Watch Award winner who has been recognized numerous times as one of the top young leaders in the profession.

The honorees were recognized in front of nearly 4,000 attendees at the AICPA's 2024 Engage Conference at the Aria in Las Vegas.

Honoring women leaders is part of the AICPA’s broader diversity and inclusion mission, which is ably supported by the volunteers who serve on its Women’s Initiatives Executive Committee.

“Each year, we have the opportunity to recognize women who are making the accounting profession a better place for all of us,” said Gail Perry, CPA, editor-in-chief of CPA Practice Advisor. “This year’s nominees continue to carry this torch of excellence. CPA Practice Advisor is proud to partner with the AICPA to present the Most Powerful Women in Accounting awards.”

Nominated by their peers and selected by a group of independent judges, these women personify leadership, inclusivity, and going above and beyond for the accounting profession. Although some global leaders have appeared on the list, it is largely focused on the U.S. market. For a full list of award criteria, visit the Most Powerful Women in Accounting webpage.

“Amplifying the many diverse voices of the profession is critical,” said Crystal Cooke, the AICPA’s diversity and inclusion director. “Not only does this award provide visibility into the amazing things that women are doing in our profession, it also shows what is possible with hard work and determination. In order for women to believe there is space at the top for them, they need to see it!”

Others named among the Most Powerful Women in Accounting for 2024 are:

• Lara Abrash, CPA, chair, Deloitte U.S.
• Julie Boland, CPA, U.S. chair / managing partner and Americas managing partner, Ernst & Young
• Jeannine K. Brown, CPC, founder and CEO, Everyday Lead
• Danielle Supkis Cheek, CPA, CFE, CVA, vice president, head of analytics and A.I., Caseware International
• Avani Desai, CPA , CISSP, CISA, CIA, PMP, CIPP, CCSK, CEO, Schellman & Company LLC
• Angie Grissom, MBA, owner, The Rainmaker Companies
• Orumé Agbeyegbe Hays, CPA, CGMA, MST, founder and CEO, Hays CPA LLC
• Yvonne Hinson, Ph.D., CPA, CEO, American Accounting Association
• Ebonie Zan Jackson, CPA, CGMA, CITP, MBA, senior vice president in the Chief Financial Officer Group, Bank of America
• Stacie Kwaiser, CPA, CEO, Rehmann
• Jennifer Leary, CPA, CEO, CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
• Kelly Mann, CPA, MBA, co-founder and CEO, AuditMiner
• Carla McCall, CPA, CGMA, managing partner, AAFCPAs
• Anna Mok, CPA, co-founder, president and chair of the board, Ascend Leadership, and advisory partner / U.S. Chinese Services Group Leader, Deloitte
• Michelle Golden River, CPF, CEO and founder, Fore LLC
• Guylaine Saint Juste, SHRM, CAE, NACD, president and CEO, NABA Inc.
• Lindsay Stevenson, CPA, CGMA, chief transformation officer, BPM LLP
• Michelle Lloyd Thompson, CPA, CEO, Cherry Bekaert Advisory LLC
• Amy Vetter, CPA, CGMA, CSP, CEO, The B3 Method Institute
• Geni Whitehouse, CPA, CITP, CSPM, president of ITAlliance.com and countess of communication at BDCOCPA.com
• Jennifer Lee Wilson, partner, co-founder, ConvergenceCoaching LLC

Now in its 13th year, the Most Powerful Women in Accounting Award was created by CPA Practice Advisor and is jointly administered by the AICPA & CIMA and CPA Practice Advisor to promote and support the success of women leaders as part of its broader mission of sustaining the profession.

Women are nominated from their peers, and a group of independent judges select the award recipients, using the following criteria for candidates:

• She has been playing an active role in innovation and excellence within her organization, and that role is carrying over to the accounting profession at large. Examples include creating and/or overseeing new programs for modernization, enhancing productivity, improving profitability.

• She is one of the top leaders in the accounting profession or in an organization that serves the accounting profession, and her leadership has had a demonstrable effect upon the accomplishments of the organization during the past year.

• She is a mentor, a sponsor and/or a role model, and someone who stands out in her ability to encourage and help those around her thrive and flourish. This includes attention to inclusivity and supporting and inspiring others within the profession.

• She contributes to the future of the profession, is influential, and has a positive impact on the accounting profession as a whole.

• She is visible within the profession, through writing, speaking, educating, and any other ways of extending herself beyond her own organization.

• She represents the accounting profession outside of her day-to-day job through participation in her community and outside organizations.